April 13, 2010

Council committee OKs watchdog on a leash

A key City Council
committee today overwhelmingly approved a proposal for a watchdog to
investigate aldermen despite criticism that the office will have almost
no power.

The Rules Committee voted 22-4 for the proposal to create the office of legislative inspector general. Ald. Joe Moore, 49th, the measure's staunchest opponent, said he believes the full council will approve it at Wednesday’s meeting. (You can read the ordinance by clicking here: Download Councilproposal)

“I was sad to see a few of my reform-minded colleagues were reluctant to oppose this," Moore said.

Under the ordinance, the legislative inspector general would be chosen
by aldermen and not be allowed to even proceed with an investigation
unless someone filed a signed-and-sworn complaint and the little-known
Board of Ethics found “reasonable cause” for the investigation to
proceed.

If the inspector general then decided to level formal charges, the
Board of Ethics would sit in judgment.

During its 23-year history, that board hasn't found a single case of
wrongdoing by aldermen. Over that period, more than 20 aldermen have
been convicted of crimes.

While he is used to being on the losing side against council forces
loyal to Mayor Richard Daley, Moore found himself allied today with
aldermen like Ald. Bernard Stone, 50th, who believe no inspector general should have the authority to probe council members.

Some aldermen conceded today that they had to take action of some kind,
with elections coming next year, after Mayor Richard Daley earlier
proposed allowing the city inspector general to investigate aldermen.
Currently the IG can only investigate the mayor's administration.

“This is a work on progress,” added Ald. Richard Mell, 33rd, chairman
of the Rules Committee that recommended approval of the measure. “At
least it’s a first step, hopefully, for a meaningful ethics ordinance.”

Asked if he's concerned voters will regard the proposal as a paper tiger, Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, said his constituents aren't focused on the issue.

"I wasn't aware there was any groundswell," Burke said after the vote.
"I haven't heard from any of my voters about it, but I think it is what
it is. Certain people will never be satisfied. I think this is a
reasonable approach to an issue that needs to get 26 votes and this
will get 26 votes."

Aldermen said Daley's office was involved in the negotiations over the
measure, and the mayor today signaled he was OK with key provisions in
the plan.

"That will be up to (aldermen) to explain the final result," Daley said
when asked if the proposed legislative inspector general is strong
enough to provide real oversight.

The mayor said the important thing is that some kind of City Council
inspector general be created by the body, just as other levels of
government have internal investigators.

Asked about Moore's complaints, Daley said critics should make their case to their colleagues.

Comments

Aldermen will continue to do whatever they want to do - going unchecked and thinking they are all powerful and untouchable, while taxpayers continue to pay their over-inflated salaries and for continued corruption. IT'S JUST WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

Past posts

Clout has a special meaning in Chicago, where it can be a noun, a verb or an adjective. This exercise of political influence in a uniquely Chicago style was chronicled in the Tribune cartoon "Clout Street" in the early 1980s. Clout Street, the blog, offers an inside look at the politics practiced from Chicago's City Hall to the Statehouse in Springfield, through the eyes of the Tribune's political and government reporters.